# Sign Regulations in Lyons, Illinois

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Lyons, Illinois, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Lyons, Illinois (IL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/lyons
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-20

## At a glance

Lyons, Illinois regulates 33 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Business Signs in the Commercial Zones zoning district are capped at 20 ft tall and 100 sq ft, with a Min 5' from any public right-of-way setback (Sec. 12-11-13I). Most commercial signs in Lyons require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Zones | 14 | — | 32 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Zones | 17 | 20 ft | 216 sq in | — |
| Industrial Zones | 1 | 40 ft pole | 60 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 25 ft (Residential); 40 ft (Commercial or Industrial) | 24 sq ft (Residential); 60 sq ft (Commercial or Industrial) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### Residential Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign | — | 16 sq ft (residential lots); 32 sq ft (commercial lots) | — | — | — | On site, attached to single or double post, or as single freestanding sign, collectively grouped | — | 12-11-12A |
| Home Improvement Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Freestanding, in yard where improvements are being made | — | 12-11-12B |
| Garage/Yard Sale Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | One per intersection per sale | One sign per sale may be placed at an intersection | — | 12-11-12E |
| Real Estate Sign (Nonresidential Use) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per lot | Wall or freestanding sign on lot | — | 12-11-12G1 |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential Use) | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | One per lot | Wall or freestanding sign on lot | — | 12-11-12G2 |
| Open House Sign (Temporary) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | Max 4 per open house within village per day | At intersections; one route per open house, max 4 within village per open house per day | — | 12-11-12G4 |
| Awning, Canopy, Marquee Sign (Identification Only) | — | 4 sq ft (aggregate gross surface display area) | — | — | — | On awning, canopy, or marquee | — | 12-11-12H3 |
| Name and Address Plate | — | 2 sq ft per face (4 sq ft aggregate) | — | — | — | At property/entrance | — | 12-11-12H7 |

### Commercial Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning or Canopy Sign | Top: 15' above grade or building height, whichever is lower; 8' min. clearance to ground | 100 sq ft | 5' projection from wall max | — | — | Building awning or canopy | — | 12-11-13B |
| Bulletin Board (Freestanding) | — | 20 sq ft | — | 15' minimum from street right-of-way | — | Set back 15' minimum from street right-of-way | — | 12-11-13E |
| Freestanding Business Sign | 20 ft | 100 sq ft | — | Min 5' from any public right-of-way | One per lot; two if >=400' frontage | Front yard only; no part within 5' of public right-of-way, may be at boundary with public sidewalk if not nuisance/hazard | — | 12-11-13I |
| Fuel Price Informational Sign (on Pump) | — | 216 sq in | — | — | One per pump | Affixed to fuel pump | — | 12-11-13J1-3 |
| Freestanding Fuel Price Sign (with changeable copy) | — | 8 sq ft per pump; max 48 sq ft | — | — | One per business | On site | — | 12-11-13J4 |
| Outdoor Menu Board | — | 32 sq ft | — | 80' minimum from stacking lane | One per order window per lot | Must be at least 80' from stacking (drive-through) lane | — | 12-11-13L |
| Box Type Wall Sign | 20 ft | 100 sq ft | — | — | One per business per wall; max two per business per building | Affixed to wall, including mansard roof | — | 12-11-13M1,3 |
| Temporary Commercial Sign (A-frame, portable swinger, sandwich, mobile attraction signboard) | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — | 5' minimum from curb/edge of pavement | One per 75' frontage | On site; min 5' from curb or pavement edge; not attached to fences, trees, poles, nor in vision/traffic hazard | — | 12-11-13P |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flag | 25 ft (Residential); 40 ft (Commercial or Industrial) | 24 sq ft (Residential); 60 sq ft (Commercial or Industrial) | — | — | — | — | — | 12-11-6A1 |
| Name and Address Plate | — | 4 sq ft, 2 sq ft per face | — | — | — | On building or property | — | 12-11-6A2 |
| Personal Message Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | 12-11-6A3 |

## Prohibited signs in Lyons

- No sign may be erected, placed, established, painted, created, or maintained except as expressly permitted by this chapter.
- It is unlawful to erect or operate attraction devices or signs which flash, blink, or are animated.
- Illumination of signs or attraction devices that fluctuate in light intensity is prohibited.
- All wind-activated devices designed to attract attention to a sign are prohibited.
- It is unlawful to erect or operate signs which revolve, rotate, or otherwise move.
- It is unlawful to erect or continue in operation a sign which contains a beacon of any type and/or contains a spotlight providing direct illumination to the public.
- No sign shall be placed or painted on any tree or rock.
- No sign shall be placed on any utility pole, light pole, telephone pole, stop sign, except for utility identification or similar purposes.
- No sign may obstruct free and clear vision at intersections or be confused with any official traffic sign, or display words such as 'STOP', 'LOOK' or 'DANGER' in a way that confuses or misleads traffic.
- No signs are allowed in public right of way, except as expressly permitted for government agencies, utilities, sanctioned organizations, or contractors doing authorized work.
- It is unlawful to use a vehicle or trailer as a sign unless the sign is magnetic and the vehicle is actively used and meets specific operational conditions.
- No commercial message is allowed on any sign not requiring a permit.
- Signs must not be maintained in a dilapidated, unsafe, or insecure condition or present a menace or blight.
- Temporary and mobile signs with commercial messages must only be used as provided and never off-site.
- No billboards or signboards may be constructed, erected, or maintained except as provided in Article A; generally, new billboards and signboards are prohibited.
- It is unlawful to maintain any sign, signal, marking, or device purporting to be or resembling an official traffic control device, or which hides any lawful traffic control device.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lyons

- Flags (within size and height limits) are exempt from permit requirements.
- House or building identification and building markers (maximum 4 sq ft and attached to building) are exempt from permit requirements.
- Personal message signs for births, anniversaries, birthdays, etc., not exceeding 20 sq ft and 14 days duration, are exempt from permit requirements.
- Signs affixed to vehicles and trailers where the sign is incidental and accessory to the primary use of the vehicle or trailer.
- Works of art that do not include a commercial message.
- Awning, canopy, and marquee signs (not exceeding an aggregate gross surface area of 4 sq ft, indicating only the name of the activity or a generic business description) are exempt (no advertising material allowed).
- Holiday lights, signs and decorations displayed on recognized holidays with no commercial message.
- Any sign inside a building, not attached to a window or door, not legible from more than 3 feet beyond the lot line.
- Memorial plaques or tablets, grave markers, statuary or other remembrances of persons or events that are noncommercial.
- Signs indicating name of occupant, premises address, or identification of any legal business (not exceeding 2 sq ft per face, or 4 sq ft aggregate).
- No trespassing, no dumping, no parking, towing, and similar signs (within size and quantity restrictions).
- Public notice or warning signs required by federal, state, or local law.
- Religious symbols, commemorative plaques of recognized agencies, or emblems (not exceeding 2 sq ft per face, 4 sq ft total).
- Traffic control signs on private property meeting standards and without commercial message.
- Permanent, nonflashing signs on vending machines etc. solely to indicate contents, pricing, or instructional info (within size limits).
- Warning signs with no advertising, removed once danger subsides.
- Barber poles are specifically exempted.
- Collection boxes for charitable or nonprofit organizations (no commercial advertising, on private nonresidential property) are allowed without a permit (commercial zones).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required for most new, constructed, erected, or modified signs, except for certain exempted signs listed in the ordinance.
- Sign permit applications must be submitted to the building director with specified information; one permit may cover multiple signs on the same lot.
- Temporary commercial signs require a permit per section 12-11-5.
- Variances from code provisions require a public hearing and approval by the board of trustees, following zoning ordinance procedures.
- In case of permit denial, the building director must specify the reasons; appeals may go to the village board.
- Maintenance, alteration or enlargement of nonconforming signs may result in a requirement to conform the sign to current standards.
- Article A (Billboards and Signboards) requires a separate permit and annual license fee for any billboard or signboard allowed under the narrow permitted circumstances.

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 4 zoning districts in Lyons — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Lyons+IL&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-lyons

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/illinois/lyons